About Cystic Fibrosis Kids (CFK)

Cystic Fibrosis or CF when first diagnosed in a child can at first be crushing to parents when told that their child has the condition. The initial feelings are of despair, anger, frustration, and a host of other emotions. With the right support and understanding of the condition, a lot of the initial fears can be managed and a fulfilling and happy family life can be had.

We have a great CF clinic at Portsmouth but in these challenging times we are living in they cannot provide all of the support or funding for equipment needed to achieve a normal home life for the child.

CFK is a group of friends and relatives of children with CF who wanted to provide support to our hospital and the families in our area. We aim to provide a positive approach to the challenges faced by both child and families and provide equipment and support to allow them to have as normal a life as possible. We also have a great relationship with our hospital team and this allows us to continue the support with in its infrastructure. This includes a listening service, Yoga, Dancing and other motivational support tools along with the traditional provision of medical and exercise equipment.

We are very much a team and are very approachable so if you want to join in and help promote our positive efforts get in touch! Read on for more info and an understanding of what Cystic Fibrosis Kids does, or click here to find out more about what Cystic Fibrosis is.

What CFK does

CF Kids helps by providing equipment, such as nebulisers, which can be an essential part of a CF Kids daily routine at home, but may not be available because of the NHS budget. The main idea behind our charity, Cystic Fibrosis Kids of Portsmouth, is to raise and hold money in order to purchase various items and equipment which, via the hospital, can then be given to CF children or their families, according to their needs.
Click here to find out what we have acheived so far.

If you are interested in learning more, or taking part in fundraising, please contact our Chairman Steve White

To donate directly to CFK please click here to go to our just giving page

Who is involved?

There are currently around 30 + families in the Portsmouth and surrounding areas who have children suffering with Cystic Fibrosis.

These children undergo intensive physiotherapy sessions everyday and many take a multitude of medication to help with their breathing, to fight infections or assist them with their digestion.

Due to the likelihood of those with CF cross-infecting each other, sufferers are not able to meet, making a support network difficult.

That’s why some of the families of those children with CF have set up Cystic Fibrosis Kids - to raise funds to make the lives of their children better and help all those suffering in the local area breathe easier.

What the Money Buys

Funds primarily buy equipment. Technological advances are enabling a family’s quality of life to be significantly enhanced, yet due to limited funds within the NHS, many families are being denied access to the most up-to-date and often time saving technology on cost grounds.

Everyday equipment such as nebulisers that administer medicines for inhalation up to five times a day, these can now be given in 2 minutes rather than 20.

This is a difference between having to keep your child occupied and still for 6 minutes a day, rather than an hour, when they know their brothers, sisters or friends are playing elsewhere.

Yet this latest machine, costing more than £400, is not being provided to every family through the NHS and can only be acquired privately.

This is just one example of the kind of thing CFK can help to provide, the charity receives no government funding and purely relies on their own fundraising efforts and kind donations.